What is surprising to whom is super subjective. Yet I feel as though people don't give enough credit to pokemon. It is one of the best selling video game franchises out there. It is one the most valuable entertainment ip ever. And palworld famously is pokemon with guns. It looked so much better than any pokemon before. And it had a super original spin to it. It was poised for success.
Helldivers 1 sold very poorly. And Helldivers 2 was very similar in everything but perspective and production value. It looked generic in a see of shooters. Everytime it showed up at a conference I felt sorry for what felt like a game dead on arrival. I gave Helldivers 2 less of a chance than I give to Concord now.
Helldivers 2 was easily to more suprising success to me.